Thiruvananthapuram: A group is reportedly duping citizens claiming to be waste management collection agencies, and taking Rs 800 as advance monthly payment. It disappears with the money, according to complaints received by health officials at the main Corporation office from Thampanoor and Kunnukuzhy wards. The civic body has not asked anyone to collect waste at Rs 800 monthly fee.
As per reports which Corporation officials received, two men visited the houses in Kunnukuzhy. In Thampanoor ward, there were two men and a woman. They make use of the Haritha Keralam Mission government order which allows the Corporation to collect a maximum user fee of '800 from a household which relies on waste collection.
While Corporation officials have received calls only from Kunnukuzhy and Thampanoor wards, there is a possibility that such fraudulent groups are active in other wards. A resident of Arappura told DC she was approached by a group asking for '800 as monthly fee.
The groups claim that the Corporation had entrusted it with collecting waste, which is a blatant lie. The civic body does not endorse any waste collection programme. The only waste management project which the Corporation has taken up is setting up of kitchen bins, which it implements through service providers.
The service providers – Harithagramam, Pelican Foundation and VCare – have appointed green technicians, who have an ID card. Some service providers insist green technicians wear uniforms. They are supported by green coordinators, who work for free. They too have ID cards.
